Okeechobee County - Tuesday January 3, 2022: Okeechobee County Sheriff (OKS) Deputies have re-arrested an Okeechobee man on a charge of vehicular manslaughter for a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian who later died.
The crash occurred at 1 a.m. on December 11, 2022 at SE 5th Street and SW 16th Avenue in Okeechobee. The victim has been identified as Erika Smith. A release from the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office states that she was run over by a pick-up truck and suffered multiple broken bones.
A witness called 911 and provided OCS Deputies with a vehicle description and direction of travel. Deputies were then able to intercept the vehicle and apprehend the pick-up driver in the area of the EYDC Boys School at 7200 Hwy 441. The driver was identified as 18 year old Runyon Cameron Runyon. He was initially arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of a traffic crash, and driving under the influence. He was able to post bond and freed.
However the victim, Smith, later died from her injuries and Runyon was then re-arrested last Thursday December 29 on a charge of vehicular manslaughter, fleeing with disregard for safety of others, and DUI causing death and failure to render aid.
His bond on the vehicular manslaughter charge was set at $100,000, bond on the fleeing with disregard for safety of others charge was set at $25,000, and another $250,000 bond was set for the charge of DUI causing death and failure to render aid.
Mr. Runyon was arrested and transported to the Okeechobee County Jail without any incident or resistance.